SAN DIEGO, June 1, 2009 -- Since Oct 2008, San Diego's active duty military personnel and their families have been enjoying the comforts of the United Services Organization's (USO) freshly-remodeled, 18,000 square foot Downtown Center, the result of a collaboration between the USO, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and local businesses.

On Saturday evening, May 30, Northrop Grumman was formally honored at USO's "Stars and Stripes" gala in San Diego for its leadership in helping create a new, more comfortable "home away from home" for the men and women of the U.S. armed services.

"Northrop Grumman is honored to be a partner with the USO in adding comfort to the lives of the men and women who actively defend our nation's freedom," said Gene Fraser, vice president and deputy for the Strike and Surveillance Division of Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector. "The donations and hard work that Northrop Grumman's 4,000 San Diego employees have contributed to this center are our way of saying thanks to the brave Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen who protect us every day."

According to Fraser, Northrop Grumman contributed more than $117,000 to the USO renovation -- informally dubbed "Project Makeover" -- through a combination of company contributions and employee fund-raising activities such as T-shirt sales, barbecues and bake sales.

The USO Downtown Center now boasts new amenities such as a state-of-the-art computer lab, fireplace, pool table lighting and kitchen, as well as fresh paint throughout the entire facility and updated furniture, movie room, library and playroom.

Beginning in 2009, Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector has designated USO as the focal point for its employees' charitable giving. In addition to conducting fund raising activities throughout the year, sector employees are participating in USO care package stuffing parties at company locations throughout the U.S. Those parties are expected to produce at least 77,000 care packages for U.S. military personnel overseas.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.